Kate Towle is author of the novel, Sweet Burden of Crossing, a story that emphasizes the themes of interracial friendship, racial justice and healing from trauma as a path to shared humanity. As a writer, community educator and weaver, she works with organizations, non-profits and community leaders to organize and facilitate events and story circles that advance racial and gender equity through trauma-informed community action. Kate’s model for intercultural and intergenerational youth engagement won the St. Paul Foundation’s 2011 Facing Race Idea Challenge. She writes about her collaboration with Katie Sample in the book, Talking About Race: Alleviating the Fear. She is a founding organizer of the community-building model Sweet Potato Comfort Pie® and was editor of the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Guide. At the Annual MLK Holiday of Service, Kate was presented the 2022 “Batter That Matters" Award from the organization Sweet Potato Comfort Pie® for her community-building efforts.